**1. Introduction**

Global estimates gathered over time show that goat population is getting bigger as in comparison to sheep numbers. It is estimated that approximately that both share a staggering number of 2.1 billion—over 1.7 billion (80%) resides within Africa and Asia continent [1, 2] and more than 90% of the goat population found in Asia and Africa (**Figure 1**). This increase in goat population is accomplished with its economic value as an efficient converters of low-quality feeds into high quality meat, dairy, and leather products [3, 4].

Goat hematology, especially, shares considerable attention since the last 1980s [5, 6]. Large number of discrepant normal hematologic values is reported. The discrepancies resulted came from differences in age group, breed, and health standing of goats [7]. This makes it further complex with variances in climate of the region, its environment and size and methodology applied. With time, many inconsistencies, reasonably standardization in normal caprine kinetics hematologic values are in place [8–10]. Talking of immune system, specific evidence on the goat immune system remains hard to get as compared to other animal species [11].

Both goats and sheep are infested by the same key digestive tract Helminthes (DTHs) diseases [12]. These parasites are enormously efficacious parasites that affect innate immune response globally around the world [13, 14]. Helminthes are exceedingly ubiquitous worm parasites that progressed to adopt with many erudite means to evade host immune system [15]. They incite pathological features resulting in huge economic losses. Till now most data on the host-parasite interactions are accumulated through ovine (sheep) studies [12, 16]. Helminthes in the abomasum and related area of host still remains as one of the major threats that is responsible for weight loss, anemia, reduced performance and production in goat [17, 18].

In contrast to cattle, many of Cestodes, Trematodes and Nematodes readily cause disease in goat as well as in sheep (**Figure 2**). Recently, some data also highlights differences in caprine and ovine species/strains, especially for nematodes [4, 19]. In goats, it is understood that they tend to accumulate parasites, which is assessed from constant monitoring of increasing number of eggs, keeping in view about seasonal differences in excretion [20]. Sheep acts in reverse [11]. In developed nations, the main magnitudes of these infections is reflected as spartan losses of production. Whereas in underdeveloped/developing countries it translates in more aggravate DTHs mortalities [11, 21].

After goat and sheep domestication, both independently settled down to different feeding habits. The sheep are grazers and prefer to take grass and broadleafed plant. Goats, on the other hand, are classified as browsers or intermediate browsers. They can ingest substantial amounts of woody plants, vines and brush according to their liking [3]. These feeding habits could upshot to sources of DTHs infestation and with distinct strategies with major consequences to host-parasite relationships [4].

In the caprine evolutionary processes, adaptation to this high miscellany of plants, direct for three consequences to regulate parasitic populations. They include

### **Figure 1.**

*Growth of sheep and goat population in the last 20 years.*

**161**

*Goat Immunity to Helminthes*

**3. Discussion**

logical phases;

**3.1 Immunological phases**

ii. recognition of antigen and processing,

v. coagulation, healing, or remodeling.

iv. cellular effector factor responses, and lastly,

DAMPs and PAMPs signals are presented in following figure [14].

iii. adaptive immune response,

**3.2 Parasite immune-modulators**

i.initiation,

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.91189*

**2. Research methods and analysis**

further areas to be addressed in future studies.

(i) subdued immune response, (ii) increased metabolism of xenobiotics and (iii) self-medication [4]. Recent literature, and documentation show that sheep is studied more to greater depth than to goats. However, generally both species share high degree of genetic and physical similarities [6, 19]. Small differences, however, do exist between the two, such as, goats cannot harbor *Helicobacter pylori* in its gastric lumen. This is in contrary to wide range of animals including sheep and cattle.

The method used in this chapter mostly focuses on literature already published or still in draft form. The thorough insight in to literature discussed put some light on the immune response in general and goat immune system in particular for the

In goats, full immune response expression, seems to be delayed by 6 months i.e. 12 months versus 6 months in goat to sheep [22]. Immune differences in expression between the two hosts are also been documented [4, 23]. It is also assumed that goats tends to accumulate parasites more than sheep. Because of goats weak recognition, and expulsion systems, larval reduction and expulsion of larval or/and adult worms are rarely observed [11, 24]. DTH infections under ordinary circumstances could be reduced as a result in changes to; (i) helminthes resistance by developing an immune response (ii) infective contact especially by avoidance feeding pattern of goats; and (iii) self-medication as results of alleviating worm challenges [4]. In this modern era, helminth's genomics and proteomics understanding tend to provide dependable evidences on presence of large number of immunomodulatory products. These are abridged in number of articles. We can group them in immuno-

In each phase, parasite immunomodulators acts specific phase [14, 25]. Immune responses, against most DTHs, are initiated by vulnerability signals generated by initial indicator molecule. The pivotal role of pathogen- or damage-associated molecules patterns (PAMPs and DAMPs respectively) are recognized through receptors on myeloid cells [14]. These chemical identities are acknowledged directly to the physical presence of helminthes in goats' gut [25]. The parasitic induction by

**Figure 2.** *Developmental stages of immune cells during Helminth infection.*

(i) subdued immune response, (ii) increased metabolism of xenobiotics and (iii) self-medication [4]. Recent literature, and documentation show that sheep is studied more to greater depth than to goats. However, generally both species share high degree of genetic and physical similarities [6, 19]. Small differences, however, do exist between the two, such as, goats cannot harbor *Helicobacter pylori* in its gastric lumen. This is in contrary to wide range of animals including sheep and cattle.
